Abstract: A method for annealing semiconductor samples, especially following ion-implantation of semiconductor samples is disclosed. A furnace on a set of rails is passed over the semiconductor sample which is supported on a stationary wire basket made of low thermal mass, fine tungsten wire. The furnace temperature may be about 5.degree. above the desired anneal temperature of the semiconductor sample such that the sample temperature rises to within a few degrees of the furnace temperature within seconds. Utilizing the moveable furnace insures uniform heating without elaborate temperature control or expensive beam generating equipment.The apparatus and process of the present invention are utilized for rapid annealing of ion-implanted indium phosphide semiconductors within 10 to 30 seconds and at temperatures of approximately 700.degree. C., thereby eliminating undesired and damaging movement of impurities within the ion-implanted InP.

Abstract: The volume of atmosphere needed to inhibit the ingress of ambient oxygen into the furnace chamber (3) of a continuous heat treatment furnace (1) can be reduced by introducing a gas containing free oxygen (e.g. air) into the entrance section (2) and/or exit section (4) adjacent the roof thereof. Thus a relatively inexpensive gas may often be used in combination with an expensive atmosphere thereby significantly reducing overall process cost. Continuous heat treatment furnaces can readily be converted to perform the method by simply inserting adjacent the roof of the entrance and/or exit section a tube (3) having a slot and/or a plurality of downwardly facing holes (9) and connecting the tube to a supply of the requisite gas. The invention is applicable to both double open ended furnaces and continuous furnaces in which the exit section is filled with a liquid, e.g. oil or molten salt. In these latter cases the gas is introduced in the entrance section (2).

Abstract: A continuous heat treatment furnace has an entrance, a preheat zone, a thermal treatment zone, a cooling zone and an exit. Curtains are provided at the entrance and exit respectively. Nitrogen and hydrogen (or other reducing gas) are supplied to the furnace to create a non-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere in the thermal treatment and cooling zones. Elongate workpieces such as tubes are advanced through the furnace and thereby heat treated (e.g. annealed). As the workpieces pass through the curtains so the tendency for air to leak into the furnace is increased. To counteract this tendency, position sensing plates are adapted to actuate a signal generator controlling a valve which in turn controls flow of e.g. nitrogen to the furnace. The arrangement is such that the flow of nitrogen to the furnace is increased wherever a workpiece is sensed, thereby enabling the essentially reducing or non-oxidizing character of the atmosphere to be sustained.

Abstract: A process for reducing the oxygen content of the atmosphere in a heat treatment furnace for ceramic materials to a prescribed value comprises measuring the O.sub.2 content of the furnace atmosphere at the point in the furnace to be affected and introducing fuel gas into the furnace as a function of the measurement result in such quantities that the desired oxygen content is attained. Also described is a furnace design suitable for carrying out this process.

Abstract: For producing uneven coloring on firing plate-like ceramic material such as tiles or flags in a kiln, more specially a roller kiln, made up of preheating, firing and cooling zones, and through whose oxidizing atmosphere in the firing zone the material to be fired is moved in a single layer without burning tools for supporting it, in or at the end of the firing zone, in a screened-off part of the kiln, the material to be fired is acted upon by a partly reducing atmosphere. In this respect the material to be fired may be passed at this position through a reducing zone and then through a pulsating oxidation zone. It is however possible as well for the material to be fired to be moved through a reducing zone and then purposefully acted upon by blowing with a strongly oxidizing gas. A further possible way of undertaking the process is such that in or at the end of the firing zone the material to be fired is moved in a pulsating reducing zone.

Abstract: A heat treat furnace wherein the furnace top and side walls are each defined by an outer, gas-tight metallic structural wall, an intermediate perforate metal plate generally parallel to and coextensive with the exterior wall to define a plenum chamber therebetween, and an inner layer of non-metallic, gas permeable insulation, preferably a blanket insulation of appreciable thickness. The gaseous atmosphere of the furnace is injected into the plenum chambers defined between the exterior walls and the perforate plates, and the atmosphere passes through the insulation layer into the interior of the furnace. The inward flow of atmospheric gas (1) replenishes the atmosphere in the furnace, (2) preheats the atmosphere, and (3) reduces any heat loss through the wall structure.

Abstract: A welded stainless steel box of rectangular cross section having a water led flange and cover is used in conjunction with an evacuation system and a pressure regulated and flow controlled gas supply to convert a standard air fired laboratory muffle furnace to a reducing gas furnace. A porous metal water-cooled plug is used to safely burn off the vented gas.

Abstract: The cooling zone (24) for a kiln, more specially a roller kiln, made up of a preheating zone (21), a firing zone (22) and a cooling zone (24), through which the goods to be kilned (10), more specially ceramic tiles or plates are transported without any burning tools of refractory material supporting them, is (for the purpose of stopping any effect on the kilned goods in the cooling zone (24) and in the parts next to the cooling zone (24), because of the effect of the atmosphere in the cooling (24) and any reoxidation of the kilned goods (10) because of this, and for giving a simple way of producing effect on the outer face of the kilned goods (10) using a moving heat vehicle, more specially liquid heat vehicle) is indirectly cooled, and has inlet systems, able to undergo adjustment in their direction and their rate of inlet, for materials for producing an effect on the outer face of the kilned goods.

Abstract: A furnace for heating steel articles and so on without oxidation and decarbonization. In the furnace, non-oxidation gas atmosphere with or without cementation characteristics is produced and regenerated by subjecting the air to carbon elements and heat at a reaction chamber provided within the furnace or closely thereto, and the gas atmosphere is circulated through a substantially closed circuit with the said reaction chamber connecting outtake and intake openings of the furnace.

Abstract: A furnace system adapted to perform various manufacturing phases in the production of gas-filled discharge tubes designed as transient protectors includes at least two vertically spaced treatment tube sections separated from each other by a sealing tube. Treatment trays pass through the sealing tube in a vertical direction; the inside of the sealing tube and the outside of the treatment trays are adjusted to each other in terms of dimensions and materials so that there is obtained adequate sealing between the treatment sections while maintaining a sufficiently low coefficient of friction to permit the treatment trays to readily pass therethrough.

Abstract: A method of operating a continuous heat treatment furnace for metal strip coils includes steps of enclosing them in muffles in the furnace supplied with an atmosphere gas containing a combustible gas such as hydrogen and feeding the muffles into and through the furnace having therein heating, soaking and cooling zones. According to the disclosed method, at least part of the heating and soaking zones is heated by direct firing heating with a fluid fuel with excess air and combustible gas leaked from the muffles into the furnace is burnt in the furnace with the aid of the excess air. Combustible gas leaked from the muffles into the cooling zone is diluted with air forced into the cooling zone to make the combustible gas incombustible and thereafter to exhaust it out of the furnace, thereby eliminating ignition means for the combustible gas in the furnace and particular precaution for preventing an ignition failure.

Abstract: A furnace tray for supporting tooth pegs used in the manufacture of false teeth, dental prostheses and the like comprises a refractory tray base member having a carbon plate receiving recess in its upper surface. A carbon plate is positioned in the recess and dental prostheses supported by tooth pegs are placed on the upper surface of the plate. The tray with the carbon plate and the dental prostheses thereon are then placed in a furnace and the teeth are fired. During the firing process the interior of the furnace is simultaneously purged by the carbon.

Abstract: A scale-covered, hot-rolled steel work is heated under a reducing atmosphere and is then allowed to slowly cool while placed under the reducing atmosphere. Thereafter the work is maintained at a predetermined temperature under an oxidizing atmosphere to cause the scale to be re-oxidized. The work with the re-oxidizing scale is then allowed to stand to cool quickly, imparting fine cracks to the scales. The scales can readily be removed from the work during the subsequent pickling step.

Abstract: A gas flow control system in which several constituent gases are mixed and the mixture delivered through controlled injectors to a processing zone. Mass flow controllers control the injector flows with one of the controllers being a master and the other being slaved to provide a selected percentage of the flow through the master controller. The gas mix is regulated by a mass flow controller on one of the constituents and a flow meter on the other, the flow meter producing an error signal which is used to readjust the total flow through the injectors by control of the master injector flow controller.

Abstract: A continuous electric tunnel furnace includes a tunnel through which articles to be fired are passed in a direction of feed. The tunnel has a length portion constituting a sintering zone. Nitrogen is introduced into the tunnel at the outlet thereof. The nitrogen stream is oriented against the direction of feed. There is further provided a gate projecting from the tunnel roof into the tunnel in the sintering zone in an orientation transverse to the direction of feed. The gate has opposite lateral bounding edges which are spaced from respective side walls of the tunnel.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved apparatus and method for directly heat treating articles in a sealed treatment chamber of the heat treatment furnace. A burner means fires into a precombustion chamber which is connected in communication with the treatment chamber. Combustion is completed in the precombustion chamber and the products of combustion are fed into the treatment chamber. Additional treatment gas such as an endothermic gas is fed directly into the furnace treatment chamber.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a distinctive construction and method of operating a furnace or oven for controlled atmosphere service whereby substantial savings in heating power or energy are realized. The furnace or oven includes a combination of refractory and insulating materials arranged in a given sequence with respect to their relative gas permeabilities, and at least two gases of discernably different weights are strategically supplied to the furnace or oven at particular locations therein.

Abstract: A pyrolysis oven for derivation of pyrolysis products from a selected sample which utilizes a tube within a tube structure of quartz glass for controlled sample heating preparatory to applying pyrolysis products for subsequent analysis. The apparatus includes a dual input helium supply to both the sample tube and oven tube with derived pyrolysis products delivered through a heated zone to the analyzing apparatus.

Abstract: An improved atmosphere circulation system involving the use of aspirators for inducing turbulence of pressurized atmosphere within a vessel promotes temperature uniformity within the vessel and, for a given degree of temperature uniformity, reduces energy consumption.

Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous atmosphere controlled furnace for aluminum brazing and other purposes. A plurality of pots are suspended from a circular roof rotatable in a horizontal plane and arranged in a circle having a center on the axis of rotation of the roof. Each pot comprises a body having an open top and a cover capable of closing the open top of the body. The open top of each pot projects above the roof and that portion of each pot which contains the material to be heated extends downwardly below the roof. The material to be heated is supported on a hanger depending from the cover of each pot and the cover is lowered to place the material in the pot and close the pot. The furnace further includes an atmosphere gas distributor having its center on the axis of rotation of the roof and connected to the pots by gas supply and exhaust ducts. A method of supplying atmosphere gas through the pots is also described.

Abstract: A method for decontaminating and subsequently metallizing a filament comprises:Passing the filament through the inner tube of a first chamber for decontamination which comprises two concentric tubes having an annular space therebetween, the inner tube of which has a series of fine holes therein; wherein said inner tube is heated and said annular space contains an inert gas such that said gas flows through said holes in heated jet streams which impinge upon said filament, thereby heating and decontaminating said filament;Passing said heated and decontaminated filament into a second chamber for metallization also comprising two concentric tubes having an annular space therebetween, the inner tube of which has a series of fine holes therein; wherein said inner tube of said second chamber is heated and said annular space of said second chamber contains a gaseous, thermally decomposable metal compound such that said gaseous metal compound flows through said holes in heated jet streams and impinges upon said heated

Abstract: An integral system contained in a suitable housing which includes means for coating particulate support material with stationary phase chemicals, means for draining liquid from the coated support material, means for drying the coated support material, and means for transferring the dried, coated support material into a gas-chromatography column. Means for cleaning and coating capillary tubes is also disclosed. Additionally means for conditioning packed columns and capillary tubes is disclosed.

Abstract: Device for removing carbonizable residues includes a closed furnace heatable to low-level carbonization temperature, the furnace having an outlet for carbonization gases formed therein, means for burning off carbonization gases from carbonizable residues and utilizing the heat of combustion therefrom for heating the furnace, the means comprising a burner and a combustion chamber connected to the burner and forming part of a hot gas circulatory system, the hot gas circulatory system also including a container wherein the furnace is disposed so as to be heatable by hot gas circulating through the hot gas circulatory system, a carbonization gas return line connecting the furnace and the combustion chamber for returning to the combustion chamber carbonization gases formed in the furnace, and an inert gas line communicating with the interior of the furnace for supplying inert gas thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for spraying between the rows of a plurality of rows of glass containers moving on a lehr mat. The spray traversing mechanism is of a commercial type which is mounted to extend through an opening in the roof of the lehr. The spraying device traverses transversely of the lehr mat. One end of the mechanism for supporting the spray traversing mechanism is pivotally mounted to a first wheeled member which is capable of being longitudinally and adjustably positioned at one side of the lehr. The other end of the traversing device is pivotally mounted to a second wheeled member, with the second wheeled member being reciprocated parallel to the direction of the movement of the lehr mat. The second wheeled member is moved at a rate such that the spray head will spray between the rows of bottles as they are moved on the lehr mat.

Abstract: A heated furnace for sintering structures of uranium oxide containing composition being introduced to the furnace. The furnace receives an atmosphere comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide as initially introduced to the furnace, and this mixture reacts in the furnace to give the presence of water vapor and carbon monoxide.